Monthly Talks

Once a month, from September to May, members meet on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Emmanuel College, 75 Queens Park, Toronto, for illustrated talks by noted experts on a wide variety of natural history topics. Visitors are welcome!

Piping Plover Project of Southern Ontario
Sept 12, 2010, 2:30 p.m.

The endangered Piping Plovers have returned to successfully nest in Sauble Beach for the past 3 years. Stewart Nutt, Coordinator of the project in Sauble Beach, describes interesting plover behaviours along with the successes and challenges of the project to save these delicate and charming birds.

Thinking Big About Ecosystems, Evolution and Life
Oct 3, 2010, 2:30 p.m.

Known for their work Algonquin Park wolves, John and Mary Theberge, Wildlife ecologists, describe their extensive field experience in wild places to highlight some of the key ideas relevant to an environmental ethic that are explored in their new book "The Ptarmigan's Dilemma: an exploration of how life organizes and supports itself".

From Prickly Pears to Polar Bears: A Look Behind the Scenes of the ROM's Biodiversity Gallery
Nov 7, 2010, 2:30 p.m.

Deb Metsger, Assistant Curator, Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum. The ROM's new Life in Crisis: Schad Gallery of Biodiversity explores the world's biodiversity and many factors affecting its conservation and survival. Deb provides the behind-the- scenes story of the research and specimen preparation that went into creating this spectacular and informative gallery.

Spiders of Ontario
Dec 5, 2010, 2:30 p.m.

Tom Mason, Curator of Invertebrates and Birds, Toronto Zoo, provides a lively encounter with the ticks, mites, spiders and other arachnids found in Ontario, including the fascinating mechanisms by which they trap their prey, their reproduction, and how they form an important component of our local ecosystems.